If you are going to dream, dream big. We have never seen Wally show any mechanical ability at all. He buys a piece of junk car for $25 with the intention of restoring it so when he has a license, he will have a car; we have to wonder, when did "Joe Wally College" take all those auto shop classes. Ward and June are surprised because they weren't asked about the car purchase; and while Ward is "sorta" OK with it, JUNE WANTS IT GONE. Her baby will die in a flaming crash.
Ward caves and tells Wally to get rid of the car. There are a few problems. The car won't run. It's blocking the driveway. Wally's friends help him shift the car; but then there are car parts everywhere. Now the car has become a large unmovable planter just sitting there in the front yard. Apparently, Wally's theory that at 15 every male teenager automatically knows everything about cars just isn't true; at least not for Wally. And Wally realizes he has to shift this on to someone else, but where will he find a buyer. Eddie suggests Wally place an ad in the obituary column.
A few of the neighbors are beginning to kid Ward about the mess in the front yard, so he has to act. He finds a junk dealer who will buy the car for fifteen dollars; but Wally has sold off parts of his car, and now has thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. The junk dealer won't buy it now, but Wally asks if he will tow it away for ten bucks. A deal is made, and Wally is left with a two dollar and fifty-cent profit. Ward is left wondering what he was worried about in the first place.
Wally is now thinking he got lucky he did. He hadn't thought of the costs involved to own a car: license fee, insurance costs, tires, gas, repairs. All in all, he's pretty content with his $2.50. No doubt Ward is contemplating the future. Today I read Millennials aren't interested in cars. But this was 1961 and every boy wanted to drive. Ward has a year to save or come up with stories.
Ward caves and tells Wally to get rid of the car. There are a few problems. The car won't run. It's blocking the driveway. Wally's friends help him shift the car; but then there are car parts everywhere. Now the car has become a large unmovable planter just sitting there in the front yard. Apparently, Wally's theory that at 15 every male teenager automatically knows everything about cars just isn't true; at least not for Wally. And Wally realizes he has to shift this on to someone else, but where will he find a buyer. Eddie suggests Wally place an ad in the obituary column.
A few of the neighbors are beginning to kid Ward about the mess in the front yard, so he has to act. He finds a junk dealer who will buy the car for fifteen dollars; but Wally has sold off parts of his car, and now has thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. The junk dealer won't buy it now, but Wally asks if he will tow it away for ten bucks. A deal is made, and Wally is left with a two dollar and fifty-cent profit. Ward is left wondering what he was worried about in the first place.
Wally is now thinking he got lucky he did. He hadn't thought of the costs involved to own a car: license fee, insurance costs, tires, gas, repairs. All in all, he's pretty content with his $2.50. No doubt Ward is contemplating the future. Today I read Millennials aren't interested in cars. But this was 1961 and every boy wanted to drive. Ward has a year to save or come up with stories.
